Sarah A. Miller | The Flint JournalFlint Mayor Dayne Walling answers a question at the Flint's Greener Future panel discussion Tuesday night at Mott Community College. The panel focused on ways to improve the city such as redesigning neighborhoods.

FLINT, Michigan -- The city is in the midst of a great economic crisis but also faces a great opportunity: The chance to become a greener, more sustainable city.

That was the sentiment expressed tonight by panelists at a public affairs forum at Mott Community College.

In a rare occurrence, Former Genesee County Treasurer Daniel T. Kildee and Flint Mayor Dayne Walling took the stage together, along with some other panelists, to talk about "Flint's greener future."

Though the pair have disagreed in the past on how to achieve that future, both agree that Flint needs a plan for its thousands of vacant and abandoned homes if it wants to position itself for a "comeback."

Sarah A. Miller | The Flint JournalDaniel T. Kildee, president of the Center for Community Progress speaks about intentionally versus accidentally designing a city at the Flint's Greener Future panel discussion Tuesday night at Mott Community College. "I know the frustration that people feel who live in the neighborhoods," he said.

Kildee said the city needs a redesign that includes reuse of abandoned lots, whether it's returning them to nature or making them productive.

He said the city needs to get over what he calls the "AutoWorld
mentality," in worrying about the possibility that new ideas could
fail.

"We've been through a lot -- more than
most cities ever go through," he said. "We have a lot of challenges. Our failure
will only be in failing to take risks and failing to be bold."

Walling said the city is more aggressive in demolishing vacant houses, and has taken down 198 structures since July 2009.

But in addition to a plan for the physical landscape, the city also needs a plan for its economy, social sphere and conservation.

"We need to deal with these
economic hydraulics that have boomed and busted this community over
the years," he said. "We've been so dependent at different
points in history on one industry. When I talk about how you become a
sustainable city, part of it is land use and housing, but also creating an economy
that's more diverse."

Other panelists included Heidi Phaneuf, president of the Grand Traverse Neighborhood Association, and Jacky and Dora King, founders of Harvesting Earth Educational Farm in Beecher.